I am not trying to discount the fact that a true soil test (from a reputable lab) is the proper way to determine soil PH and fertility needs, but how accurate is this tester? I have several properties that I can hunt on throughout my area, and would like to determine the soil PH of each potential food plot location. After an initial determination of the best locations, I would send in soil samples for recommendations. Has anyone ever compared the PH of soil taken by one of these testers to an actual soil test performed by a lab? Does it at least get you in the ballpark?

about as accurate as shooting a gun with no sights...

Here's an old farmer test. When you find that site that looks good, pull up a blade or two of grass, and chew it. If it is sour the soil is acid, if it has a little sweet tast, might be not too far off. Old time farmers used this test for many years to judge the ph of a field. This might be just as accurate as that 25$ tester. and you're not out anything.

Russ

Thanks - I'll charge my taste buds $25. I guess that seems right. Ever notice how the deer in an area will choose one particular location to browse and leave the same identicle plants that are nearby alone until the "preferred" browse is all gone?

Your observation is right on the money. If that forage ain't sweet, they won't eat it. Got one small plot that deer won't touch, another one field away that I can't get the stuff to grow as they wipe it out. Both Rye. Guess I'll have to get a truck of lime in there.

Russ

I bought one a while back from the Bass Pro Shop for like 14 bucks on sale. I was a little skeptical about using it but I went ahead and tried it out on a new place I bought this year, the reading said the ph was good so I just added some fertilizer to the Imperial Extreme on a small half acre test patch I came back the next week and it had already started budding out all over the only problem I face is that I do not have water on this property so I have to rely on mother nature. I use that sucker now to test the ph in my garden at home heck I even checked the ph of my yard. I think it is pretty accurate the key is to make sure that the ground is a little damp when you stick the probe in it.

Rose....... "in the ballpark" is not what you want. Everyone who plants needs the best and most accurate sol info to have the best plots possible. There are too many uncontrollable events (Mother Nature) that can cause problems already. Take advantage of a "real test" or I can almost guarantee you problems.

By the way, I tried the pH tester, and from the same dirt sample, I sent off for a university test. The pH tester showed a pH of 7.0 and the actual test showed 5.6. In soil testing that's missing it by a mile.

The main problem, besides being incorrect and not by just a little, is the fact that the meter can't use the type soil (sand or clay) which can greatly impact the amount of lime to use. It also can't tell you which fertilizer is correct for the crop you have chosen. Actual soil tests do both.

I think anyone who would trust their plots to a meter of this type is making a mistake that could cost them their fields and something to hunt over for a year or two.

Rose....don't waste your money and if you have send it back.

I totally agree that a true soil test is the way to go...... What I was looking for was a quick way to determine the ph of a possible future plot location, primarily due to the fact that lime would be VERY difficult to transport to these remote places (mostly boat access only). A "ballpark" ph would let me know the places that need the least amount of lime, so I could then send off a soil test for a more accurate ph reading and fertilizer prescription for the plants I intend to grow. The plots I intend to grow are only about 1/4 - 1/2 acre each due to the remote locations and the manual labor involved. Perhaps fertilizing natural vegetation in these remote areas is the key -- it might save me a whole lot of back pain!